AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting the 2019 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on Monday, Aug. 5, 2019 at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station near Ames. The annual event will feature various research and demonstration projects on fruit and vegetable production for commercial growers, extension personnel, non-profit organizations, and Master Gardeners. The field day will provide an opportunity to observe results and evaluate research projects focusing on high tunnels, organic vegetable production, peppers, sweet potato, pest management in cucurbit crops, hops, peaches, and beneficial insects (bees, wasps, pollinators, etc.). Funding for the event is provided by USDA SARE and IDALS Specialty Crop Block grants. The field day is organized in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The ISU Horticulture Research Station is located at 55519 170th Street, Ames, IA. The field day will run from 2:00-6:30 p.m. Registration is free but required to get a count for supper. Please register below.

Welcome to 2nd Iowa High Tunnel Short Course. This short course is designed to highlight production and management of several high tunnel crops along with information on economics and marketing aspects of high tunnel crop production. The course will also provide an update on the status of high tunnel research across the Midwest. This year’s keynote speaker is Dr. Lewis Jett. Dr. Jett is an Associate Professor and Vegetable Extension Specialist at West Virginia University and has many years of experience working on fruit and vegetable production in high tunnel systems. His work focuses on cultivar selection, crop and soil management, soil fertility, season extension, and improving profitability in high tunnel production. The short will also host Mike Bollinger from River Root Farm, Decorah, IA as a speaker. Mike and Katie operate River Root Farm, which is a small-certified organic family farm and greenhouse operation in Decorah, Iowa. Mike has extensive experience working with high tunnel crops.

This event is supported by USDA North Central SARE Professional Development Program. Core objectives of this short course are to:

Highlight the importance of crop, environment, and soil management for vegetable production in high tunnels

Provide a platform to share resources, knowledge, and expertise in the area of high tunnel vegetable production

Connect growers, agricultural educators, extension staff, and industry personnel working in high tunnels and in the area of local foods.

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State University Extension and Outreach is hosting the 2018 Fruit and Vegetable Field Day on Monday, Aug. 6, 2018 at the Iowa State University Horticulture Research Station near Ames. The annual event will feature various research and demonstration projects on fruit and vegetable production for commercial growers, extension personnel, non-profit organizations, and Master Gardeners. The field day will provide an opportunity to observe results and evaluate research projects focusing on high tunnel vegetable crops, herbicide drift, organic vegetable production, potatoes, asparagus, sweet potato, pest management in cucurbit crops, hops, peaches, and honey bee health and behavior studies. The field day will also demonstrate equipment and tools needed in small scale fruit and vegetable production systems. Funding for the event is provided by USDA SARE and IDALS Specialty Crop Block grants. The field day is organized in partnership with Practical Farmers of Iowa, Iowa Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association, and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture. The ISU Horticulture Research Station is located at 55519 170th Street, Ames, IA. The field day will run from 2:00-6:30 p.m. Registration is free but required to get a count for supper. Please register below.

With growing demand for fresh and locally grown vegetables, growers are capitalizing on techniques such as the use of high tunnels for season extension. After a long duration crop such as tomato, planting a quick turnaround crop in high tunnels is a viable option to continue production and increase profitability. High tunnels are an excellent resource for early spring and late fall production of leafy vegetables such as lettuce. Use of plastic mulch as a weed management tool is common in field vegetable production.

One of the biggest challenges which Midwest vegetable growers face is the unpredictable weather and narrow seasonal window for crop production. The risk of frost damage and low soil and air temperatures during the growing season are major constraints. Strategies that help extend growing seasons are thus imperative for successful production of fresh and quality produce. With growing demand
for fresh and locally grown vegetables, growers could capitalize on techniques such as the use of high tunnels, low tunnels, or a combination of both to extend the growing season.

Great Plains Growers Conference (GPGC) is a combination of two great conferences: Great Plains Vegetable Conference and Mid-America Fruit Conference. The three-day conference features presentations by knowledgeable speakers from throughout the nation. The conference showcases educational information from all five states: Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and South Dakota, along with vegetable specialists and growers from those states.